Former corrections officer gets five years in prison

TRENTON — A fired New Jersey corrections officer who admitted smuggling a cell phone to an inmate was sentenced to five years in prison this morning by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Thomas Sumners.

Sterling J. Duckett, who had a spotless record in 22 years as a prison guard, was too big hearted for his own good, said his lawyer, Robin Lord. He smuggled in the cell phone, she said, “because he has a big heart. He didn’t need the money.”

Charges of official misconduct against Duckett were dropped under a plea deal with prosecutors. But the judge and lawyers noted that Duckett will never be able to work for the state again under the deal.

Sumners said he appreciated the suspect’s good record, including military service, but noted that prison officers have to be deterred from smuggling contraband into a community of felons.

Duckett, who has a wife and teenage daughter, was handcuffed and taken away to prison after the sentencing. But the judge said he could get out sooner than five years if approved for a program of “intensive supervisory probation.”